Jason Johnson #16

Full name Jason Michael Johnson...Is a diabetic and he continues to speak to and provide inspiration for youngsters with diabetes...Served as the spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation's "Field of Dreams" fundraiser at Camden Yards in September of 2000, an event that raised more than $60,000...In January 2002, he was named the co-winner of the Tony Conigliaro Award, presented annually by the Boston Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of American for spirit and determination in overcoming obstacles in memory of the former Red Sox outfielder...He served as an honorary chair for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Gala held in February of 2003...Attended Conner High School in Hebron, Ky.

2006

On 8/30 was signed to a minor league contract....began the season with Cle and went 3- 8, 5.96 in 14gs before he was traded to Bos on 6/21...went 0-4, 7.36 in 6 gs before he was released by the Sox on 8/30...signed with the Reds that day...was promoted on 9/6 and made all 4 of his apps for the Reds in relief...were his first relief apps since he finished the 2000 season with 6 consecutive relief apps, snapping his streak of 172 straight starts...in 1992 graduated from Conner High School in Hebron, Kentucky, near Cincinnati.

2005

Spent his second season with the Detroit Tigers...Posted a record of 8-13 with a 4.54 ERA in 33 starts and a career-high 210.0 innings for the Detroit Tigers in 2005 (210.0IP, 233H, 106ER, 49BB, 93K, 23HR)...Johnson's 210.0 innings pitched ranked 11th in the entire American League while his 19 quality starts (see box) led the Detroit staff...The durable, 6-6 right-hander worked at least 6.0 innings in 25 of his 33 starts (76%) and at one point from May 10-June 3 he worked 8.0 innings in 5 consecutive starts... Worked eight innings in five consecutive starts May 10-June 3 -- became the first Tigers pitcher to work eight-or-more innings in five straight starts since Jeff Robinson July 16-August 7, 1988...His ground ball/fly ball ratio of 1.74 (375GB/216FB) was 2nd in the entire AL next to only the Tribe's Jake Westbrook...Johnson, who was Detroit's opening day starter in 2004, is one of just eight American League pitchers to make at least 32 starts in each of the last three seasons since 2003 (see box)...Posted a 5-4 record and 2.76 ERA (114.0IP/35ER) at Comerica Park, the second-lowest home ERA in the American League and the lowest home ERA by a Tigers pitcher since David Wells posted a 2.74 ERA (108.1IP/33ER) at Tiger Stadium in 1993...Posted a 3-9 record and 6.66 ERA (96.0IP/71ER) on the road, marking the second-highest road ERA in the league and the highest road ERA by a Tigers pitcher since Felipe Lira posted a 7.11 ERA (82.1IP/65ER) in 1996...Averaged 3.38 pitches per batter faced, third-lowest in the league while also tossing 14.3 pitches per inning, fourth-lowest in the league...Allowed a career-high 233 hits, tied for fourth-most in the league...Ranked fourth in the league with 17 wild pitches, marking the most by a Tigers pitcher since Jack Morris recorded 24 wild pitches in 1987...Retired only one batter in the first inning, while allowing five runs on seven hits on April 13 at Minnesota to take his first loss of the season -- marked the shortest outing of his major league career and the shortest by a Tigers pitcher since Todd Van Poppel worked 0.1IP on 9/27/96 vs. Milwaukee...Hit his first career home run, a solo shot off Jeff Weaver on June 8 at Dodger Stadium against Los Angeles -- marked the first home run by a Tigers pitcher since Les Cain went deep on August 28, 1971 versus the Chicago White Sox... Struggled over the final three months of the season, posting a 3-7 record and 5.67 ERA (106.1IP/67ER), while opponents batted .303 (128x422) over the 17-start stretch after posting a 5-6 record and 3.39 ERA (103.2IP/39ER), while limiting opponents to a .266 batting average (105x395) over his first 16 starts.

2004

In his first season with Detroit, he set career highs with 33 starts, 196.2 innings pitched and 125 strikeouts...Tied for third in the American League with 15 losses while posting a .348 winning percentage, fourth-lowest in the league...Received 4.16 runs per nine innings from the Tigers offense, the fourth-lowest run support in the league...Was the Tigers Opening Day starter on April 5 at Toronto, marking his first career Opening Day start...worked six shutout innings, allowing four hits and fanning three to earn the victory...Battled a blister on his right middle finger throughout the season's early months and did not work past the seventh inning in any of his first nine starts April 5-May 16, before working into the eighth inning-or-later in 10 of his final 24 starts May 22-September 29, including six straight June 19-July 19...Left his start on April 15 versus Toronto after four innings due to a blister on his right middle finger...made his next scheduled start on April 20 at Minnesota...Dropped five consecutive decisions April 10-May 11 -- posted a 7.68 ERA (34.0IP/29ER) while allowing 46 hits, walking 13 and striking out 12 over the seven starts...Allowed one run on five hits while striking out seven over five innings on May 16 versus Texas to snap the five game losing streak...left the game after the fifth inning with a blister on his right middle inger...Posted a 6-3 record and 3.08 ERA (84.2IP/29ER), while striking out 67 and walking only 18 over a 12-start stretch May 16-July 19...ranked fourth in the league with 84.2 innings pitched over that stretch, while ranking fifth with the 3.08 ERA, sixth with 67 strikeouts and tying for eighth with six wins...Left his start on June 19 at Shea Stadium against the New York Mets in the eighth inning due to tightness in his right pectoral muscle...Worked into the eighth inning-or-later in four of his five starts during June, posting a 2-1 record and 2.36 ERA (34.1IP/9ER)...Outdueled the Twins Johan Santana on July 11 at Minnesota by tossing the first shutout of his major league career -- allowed five hits, walked one and struck out a career-high 11 batters...Named American League Player of the Week for the week of July 5-11 after winning both of his starts during the week and posting a 0.53 ERA (17.0IP/1ER)...was the first Tigers pitcher to win the award since Walt Terrell during the week of August 19-25, 1991...Named Tigers Pitcher of the Month for July after posting a 3-1 record and 3.40 ERA (45.0IP/17ER) in six starts during the month...Allowed three runs on six hits in 1.1 innings on August 21 versus Seattle before leaving with a mild left hip strain...Allowed 11 runs (nine earned) on six hits while walking four in 2.1 innings on September 9 versus Kansas City in the first game of a doubleheader... Struggled over the season's final two months, losing seven consecutive decisions and posting a 7.13 ERA (59.1IP/47ER), while opponents batted .344 (86x250) over the 11-start stretch...Posted a 4-10 record and 5.98 ERA (105.1IP/70ER) at home, while posting a 4-5 record and 4.14 ERA (91.1IP/42ER) away from Comerica Park -- his 10 losses at home led the American League, while his 5.98 ERA was second-highest in the league...Induced 24 double plays, 10th-most in the league, while ranking seventh with a 1.68 ground ball/fly ball ratio (325 ground ball outs/193 fly ball outs).

2003

Established a career high with 118 strikeouts for the Baltimore Orioles, while he matched his career bests with 10 wins and 32 games started...Third in the American League with 80 walks...Allowed 32 stolen bases, the most in the league...Won each of his first four decisions of the season April 12-29...in five starts during April, he was 4-0 with a 2.12 ERA (29.2IP/7ER)...Dropped two of his three decisions in five starts during May, posting a 4.55 ERA (27.2IP/14ER)...Failed to work past the sixth inning in each of his first four starts during June before going a season-high eight innings in a no-decision versus Philadelphia on June 27...Worked into the seventh inning in four of his six starts during July -- finished 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA (39.0IP/19ER) during the month...Lost his final five decisions of the season August 31- September 27, compiling a 6.23 ERA (34.2IP/24ER) during the six-start stretch...Fanned a career-high eight batters in a loss at Seattle on August 31, despite limiting the Mariners to two runs in six innings...His 2.77 ERA (39.0IP/12ER) in six starts during August was seventh-best in the league...finished the month with a 2-1 record...Went 7-4 with a 3.82 ERA (103.2IP/44ER) in 18 starts before the all-star break, compared to 3-6 with a 4.60 ERA (86.0IP/44ER) in 14 starts following the all-star break...Limited the opposition to a .236 batting average (47x199) with runners in scoring position.

2002

Limited to 22 starts with the Orioles due to two stints on the disabled list...His .263 winning percentage was third-lowest in the American League...Landed on the DL after four starts on 4/25 with a chip fracture in his right middle finger...Injury occurred when he simulated his pitching motion during a side session and he hit his finger on the ground...Assigned to Double A Bowie for one start during a rehab assignment before being activated from the disabled list by Baltimore on 6/7...Fanned a seasonbest seven batters at Cleveland in a no-decision on 6/13...Fired a complete game to earn the win over Pittsburgh on 6/29...Limited the Pirates to one run on six hits in nine innings of work...Dropped nine of his final 11 decisions 7/12-9/21...Placed on the DL on 7/23 with right shoulder tendonitis...Returned to action on 8/9 at Detroit, limiting the Tigers to one run on three hits in five innings to suffer the loss.

2001

Set career bests with 10 wins, 32 games started, two complete games and 196.0 innings pitched for Baltimore in 2001...Fifth in the American League with 28 home runs allowed, tied for fifth with 13 wild pitches and tied for eighth with nine wild pitches and 77 walks...Held the opposition to a .221 batting average (42x190) with runners in scoring position, fourth-best in the league...Led all league pitchers with 19 caught stealings, but his 34 stolen bases against tied for second-most in the league...Received the fourth-worst run support in the league, 4.41 runs per nine innings...Posted a 3-1 record and 2.58 ERA (38.1IP/11ER) in six starts during May...Tossed the first complete game of his major league career 6/26 at Toronto, suffering the loss after allowing three runs on five hits in eight innings...Second in the league with a 1.91 ERA (33.0IP/7ER) in five starts during July, compiling a 3-1 record.

2000

Began season at AAA Rochester before being recalled on April 21...Made 12 starts in 15 outings before being optioned to Rochester on July 7...Was recalled from minors on August 1 and made 9 of 10 appearances in relief over final two months of season...Began season 0-8, tying Mike Boddicker's 1988 club record for most consecutive losses to begin a season...Earned his only win of season on August 4 at Tampa Bay, pitching 4.0 perfect innings of relief in the Orioles' 10-9 win in 15 innings...As starter for the Orioles, went 0-8 with a 7.20 ERA...In 12 relief appearances, went 1-2 with a 6.61 ERA...Made his first major league start of the season on April 23 at Oakland, allowing one run over 6.0 IP without a decision...Did not receive a decision in his first 2 starts for Orioles despite allowing only 4 runs over 13.0 IP...Allowed just 2 runs in 14.0 innings in his final 3 appearances in May, including 2 starts...Beginning June 2, he allowed at least 5 runs in 7 of his final 8 appearances before being sent back to Rochester...In 5 starts at Rochester in July, went 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA (35.0IP, 20H, 10R/7ER, 15BB, 37K)...Overall went 3-1 with 1.47 ERA in 8 starts (55.0IP, 32H, 12R/9ER, 21BB, 56K) for Red Wings...In his only start after his second recall, on August 15 vs. Chicago, he matched a club record by allowing 12 runs (10 earned) on 11 hits and 4 walks over 5.0IP in a 14-4 loss...Allowed 17 stolen bases, tied with Sidney Ponson for most among Orioles pitchers and tied for 7th among American League hurlers.

1999

Acquired from Tampa Bay on March 29 in exchange for OF Danny Clyburn...Joined club for final five days of spring training before being optioned to AAA Rochester...Was recalled from Rochester on May 20 and became a part of the Orioles starting rotation for remainder of the season...Finished season with a 5-game winning streak over his final 7 starts...Stretch began on August 19 vs. Minnesota...Did not allow more than 5 hits in a game in that span and pitched to a 3.38 ERA (42.2IP, 16ER)...Pitched 5 innings of 3-hit, shutout ball on September 8 at Minnesota before leaving the game when a blister broke on his right index finger...Did not start again until Sept. 21 at Texas...Won his final 3 starts but was scratched from his final outing, scheduled for Oct. 1 vs. Boston, after breaking the small toe on his left foot two days earlier in an accident at home...In 7 starts against teams that advanced to post-season play, he went 2-4 despite a respectable 4.31 ERA...Pitched markedly better following the All-Star Game, with a 7-4 record and 5.17 ERA in 13 starts vs. 1-3, 5.93 in 9 games/8 starts before the break...Except for back-to-back losses at Tampa Bay and Cleveland, Aug. 9 & 14, when he yielded 14 ER in 6.0IP, his ERA in the 2nd half was 3.72 and for the season was 4.61.

1998

Began season at AAA Durham, but was recalled by Tampa Bay on 4/18 to replace Rick Gorecki (DL) in the rotation...Earned win in his first major league start 4/23 at Texas (5.1IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 5BB, 2K)...Picked up his second win nearly a month later, 5/22 at Seattle, surrendering a run on four hits over six innings of work...Made his final appearance of the season 7/3 at Toronto...Left game after 3.1 innings with lower back stiffness and was placed on the 15-day disabled list the following day...Was transferred to the 60-day DL September 21...On season, enjoyed more success on the road, going 2-1 with a 3.64 ERA, while posting 0-4, 7.71 numbers at Tropicana Field...Started a pair of games for Class AA Durham, going 1-0 with a (2.92 ERA)...Participated in the Arizona Fall League at season's end and tied a league record with seven wins for runner-up Grand Canyon, earning Pitcher-of-the-Year honors...His 45.0 innings pitched finished a league second best, and he was voted one of the top two right-handed (starter) prospects in the AFL by the managers and coaches.

1997

Began season with Class A Lynchburg, advanced to AA Carolina 7/7 and promoted to Pittsburgh 8/27...Made his major league debut the day his contract was purchased by the Pirates, appearing in relief against Los Angeles...Surrendered a home run to Mike Piazza on his first pitch...Allowed three runs in five innings of work over his final two outings (9/1 vs. Cleveland, 9/27 at Houston)...Was a combined 11-7 at Lynchburg and Carolina with a 3.85 ERA and 155 strikeouts in 156.2 innings...Marked the first time he recorded a winning record since his first year of professional baseball at Bradenton in 1992 (2-0)...After starting 2-4 with a 4.85 ERA in his first 10 starts at Lynchburg, won six of his last seven starts there (one no decision) with a 2.27 ERA.

1996

After going 1-4 with a 6.50 ERA in 15 games (5 starts) at Lynchburg, showed improvements at Augusta with a 4-4 record, 3.11 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 84 IP (14 games, all starts).

1995

Split time between Augusta of the South Atlantic League and Lynchburg of the Carolina League, going 4-9 with 83 strikeouts in 108.2 innings.

1994

Spent the entire season at Class A Augusta, establishing career high games (20), starts (19), innings pitched (102.2) and walks (32)...More than 25% of the runs he surrendered were unearned (19 of 67).

1993

Went just 1-4 in nine starts at Bradenton despite a 2.33 ERA and only 48 hits in 54 innings.

1992

Made his professional debut with Bradenton of the Gulf Coast League, appearing in five games in relief.